News from around the nation

MAN CALLS COPS FOR THEFT FROM PA. WORKERS' FRIDGE : BREINIGSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — If you ever had your lunch disappear from the office refrigerator, consider what one southeastern Pennsylvania man did: He called the cops.

The Grants Pass Daily Courier reports authorities received a tip that 50-year-old Curtis W. Croft was bragging about all the pot he was growing on his property outside Grants Pass. Investigators went to Google Earth to find out what they could see.

Authorities say online satellite images taken in June showed dozens of plants in neat rows, so the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team sent up an aircraft for a closer look and checked state medical marijuana records.

They showed Croft was registered to grow for five people, which amounts to 30 mature plants. Authorities say a police raid in September seized 94 plants.

Pennlive.com reports that Carlisle police filed the charges but are not releasing the boy's names because they're charged in juvenile court.

Police say the attack happened about 2 p.m. Friday and was captured by city surveillance cameras. Police say one teen beat the man with a tree branch then punched him. They say the other teen threw the man to the ground and kicked him in the face.

Investigators say both teens left before officers arrived, but they were identified by witnesses and through the video.

The teens are charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

THIEF RETURNS PA. BOY'S GIANT 100-POUND PUMPKIN: YORK, Pa. (AP) — A thief has returned a 100-pound pumpkin that a central Pennsylvania boy won by correctly guessing its weight — along with a note apologizing for the theft.

Nine-year-old Jaiden Newcomer of York won the pumpkin at an Oktoberfest celebration in Windsor Township. He had displayed the giant pumpkin on his family's porch until it was stolen last week.

But the York Dispatch reports the pumpkin was back on the family's porch Sunday evening after it returned from a weekend trip.

The thief also left a note saying: "I'm really sorry about taking your pumpkin, it was wrong of me, you earned the pumpkin, I didn't think my actions through nor realize who they were affecting. Sincerest apologies."

Amy Newcomer says her son is "very excited. He's beside himself."

JOKER' CHARGED WITH DRIVING DRUNK IN MAINE: PITTSFIELD, Maine (AP) — Police didn't need Batman to help them arrest the Joker in central Maine over the weekend.

A man returning from a Halloween party and wearing makeup like the Joker was charged with drunken driving after crashing his car in Pittsfield early Sunday.

Police say 64-year-old Dennis Lalime lost control of his car at about 2 a.m., then struck multiple trees and rocks before coming to a rest. Lalime wasn't injured.

A nearby homeowner heard the crash and called police, who arrested Lalime on an operating under the influence charge.

In his booking photo, Lalime's face is painted white, with dark circles around his eyes, and his hair is dyed bright green, just like the villain in the Batman series.

NJ GOVERNOR ENDS GAY MARRIAGE FIGHT AS COUPLES WED: TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Gov. Chris Christie dropped his fight against gay marriage in New Jersey on Monday, framing the decision in a pragmatic way: No point in fighting a losing battle.

Just hours after gay couples began exchanging vows with the blessing of New Jersey's Supreme Court, Christie announced he was withdrawing his appeal to the high court.

New Jersey is the 14th state to legalize gay marriage.

As the Republican governor seeks re-election two weeks from now and ponders a run for president in 2016, Christie's decision holds both risks and benefits for him.

It delighted gay rights activists and could enhance Christie's appeal to independents and moderates of both parties. But it angered members of the GOP's conservative wing, which already distrusts Christie and wields outsized influence in some state primaries.

RUNNER IN KC MARATHON SETS KNITTING RECORD: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A University of Central Missouri graphic design professor has knitted his way into the record books while running the Kansas City Marathon.

The Kansas City Star reports that David Babcock finished Saturday's marathon in 5 hours, 48 minutes and 27 seconds. Knitting experts measured the scarf he created along the route at just more than 12 feet long.

The Guinness scarf-knitting-while-running-a-marathon record was previously held by Susie Hewer, who runs to raise money for Alzheimer's disease research. She knitted a 6 foot, 9 inch scarf at the London Marathon in April.

Like Hewer, the 41-year-old Babcock hopes that people will donate to the Alzheimer's Association. Babcock began running and knitting as separate activities about three years ago. He decided to combine them to keep things interesting.